Great plans for NAIA

Last Saturday at midnight, the New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation (NNIC) under Ramon S. Ang of San Miguel Corporation officially took over operations of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). According to Department of Transportation Sec. Jaime Bautista, many issues are expected to be addressed at the country’s primary airport.

Some of those that the NNIC will address is the mobility equipment such as elevators, escalators, and walkalators. I have always wondered why the walkalators are so short if they work at all. They usually are turned off, especially at night. Unlike other countries where the walkalators practically take you to your destination. Boarding bridges will also be repaired. These are the bridges that directly connect to the aircraft’s door. These normally have two access doors to facilitate faster boarding of passengers. The NNIC has already ordered parts for these. It makes you wonder why these boarding bridges were not fixed all these years.

The comfort rooms will also be repaired – thankfully – to make it more acceptable for passengers to use. And one of the most important issues is the air conditioner. NAIA’s air conditioners have broken down several times, making departing passengers experience “hell on earth.” The internet wifi will also be improved so that passengers do not lose their connection to the world. And additional seats will be made available for passengers. A simple solution that seems so easy for the previous administrations to do. There are also plans to put up a new terminal where the Philippine Village Hotel stands. This will be an extension of Terminal 2. There will also be additional shuttles that will operate inside the airports to all terminals.

What the government expects from the NNIC is that within eight years the government and the people should see and feel the improvements at NAIA. Otherwise, their concession will only last for fifteen years. I do not doubt that the NNIC can fix that, especially under the leadership of Ramon S. Ang. Hopefully NAIA never makes it to the World’s Worst Airport list ever again.

These are great plans. I do not doubt the ability of the NNIC that within eight years we will see a significant change for the better at NAIA. But another area that sorely needs improvement is the immigration process. Everyone who travels abroad knows that. Unfortunately, that is not covered in the agreement between the NNIC and the government as the Bureau of Immigration is the immigration authority. If only they could handle that as well, right?